Australia, Thailand to work together for solution to drug problems

BANGKOK, July 17 (TNA) - The Australian and the Thai governments have agreed on working together for the solution to drug problems, including those in the "Golden Triangle" for bilateral and regional benefits on the sustainable basis. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Australian Minister for Health Greg Hunt and visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong in Melbourne on July 16 (local time). Accompanied by his entourage from relevant Thai agencies, the Thai deputy prime minister first personally extended his gratitude to Canberra, on behalf of the Thai government and people, for a hearty contribution and participation in the successful international rescue mission recently of 13 young Thai footballers who had been trapped for two weeks in the deep and massively-inundated Tham Luang Cave in the compound of the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the northern Thai Chiang Rai Province by Australian medical experts and personnel. The Australian side, in turn, praised the practical management of the international rescue mission by the Thai side, as well as cooperation and collaboration by all parties in an integrated aspect. Both sides then agreed on cooperation between Canberra and Bangkok on finding the solution to drug problems in the "Golden Triangle" and other areas in the ASEAN Community (AC) under the Safe Mekong Operation Project and the mandate of the ASEAN Narcotics Cooperation Center (ASEAN-NARCO). The agreed cooperation covers technical exchanges from relevant research and development projects and co-activities between Australia and Thailand, as the partnership, on the adoption and the application of the Sufficiency Economy Principle, advised by Thailand's late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, towards the sustainable solution to the drug problems for bilateral and regional benefits in the long run. The "Golden Triangle" is an area where the common border of Thailand, as well as neighboring Lao PDR and Myanmar meets in the northern Thai region. (TNA)